Build this pedal for a cool retro FUZZ sound to play Hendrix
style licks with funky fuzzy distortion. This fuzz uses cheap,
readily available 2N3904 transistors that you can buy at Radio
Shack. Usually the 2N3904 silicon transistor produce a harsh sounding
type of distortion but this design takes advantage of diode distortion
at the end of the circuit to "mellow" things out a bit.
What happens is that the transistors distort but the diodes distort
too and compress the sound a lot. The 1N914 and 1N34a diodes really
round out the sound and make this pedal sound much better than
if they weren't there. In addition the neat "harmonics volume"
trim pot in the diodes (thanks R.G.!)
allow you to adjust the intensity of the harmonics and the mix
of diode "effect" vs. transistor distortion. Please
socket the transistors and diodes because experimenting with them
will give you all sorts of timbres.

The Lava Rim 2 is a versatile circuit! You can mix NPN germanium
transistors and silicon transistors for a unique sound. The trim
pots let you use all types of transistors such as the 2N5088 for
more distortion and gain. In addition, the 2nd transistor can
use a MOSFET like the 2N7000 or BS170! Just pop in the MOSFET,
drain toward V+, source toward ground and adjust the trim pot
until you hear good tone! In addition, remove the diodes to really
hear the MOSFET.

A Fuzz Face that uses germanium (somewhat hard to find) transistors
and a hi-gain silicon transistor for powerful output. Screaming
and distorted, this is a powerful Fuzz Face pedal. The Hornet
doesn't have the typical low end buzz of a Fuzz Face since I rolled
off some lows at the input. A great sounding hybrid Fuzz Face
that can be trimmed to match a wide variety of transistors.

Built off of Gus Smalley's 3 transistor fuzz, this fuzz face
with buffer on the front is a nice take on a silicon distortion.
Good sustain, and good distortion, make this pedal a winner. Easy
to build too.

You may have heard about FET transistors and their ability
to sound "tube-like". Well here is your chance to try
an excellent low to medium drive booster/overdrive. It sounds
very good for driving the input of an amp and has a very nice
tone. It's easy to build and sounds very good.

Skill level: medium

The warm sound of FETs in a great overdrive.

Booster 2.5,Sweet
ThingThe Booster 2.5 is my mods on the Booster
2 which makes it into a great medium to high overdrive unit. It's
gives a great tube-like singing sustain and wonderful feel. The
Sweet Thing is Doug Hammond's mods to the Booster 2.5. He added
a nice tone control which basically adjusts the mid content of
the pedal. This is an excellent overdrive to build.

Screaming, screaming - (Did I say screaming?) pedal. Killer
distortion that's "brown" and warm but with bite. If
you've got the chops, this pedal delivers screaming leads, tons
of sustain, just the right amount of buzz in the distortion while
keeping it smooth. This pedal is FAST, try your fastest licks
on this pedal. Crank it up to get enormous distortion and sustain.
It's insane!

Everyone seems to want a pedal to boost their tube amp nowdays,
well here it is and more. The Shaka Braddah III is a big boost
pedal with drive! The pedal uses one of the best boosters you
can get anywhere: the Jack Orman
Mini-Booster. The circuit incorporates MOSFET internal diodes
with germaniums for a unique buzz that gets rounded off with the
Mini-Booster. This pedal has tone when played into a tube
amp and the clear highs allow you to cut right through a band
mix.

How can it do all of this? Simple. By using a separate clipping
module (separate perfboard with clippers or another type of distortion
circuit), and sockets/jumpers, tap into this pedal at different
points to create many different types of distorters. It's very
powerful and easy to do. You can also tap into the pedal at the
end of the MiniBooster and pass the signal to a new filter module.
I've used the Rat, Bluesbreaker, Shaka 3 and Jack Orman modified
tone controls in this pedal with good results.

A hi-gain pedal for the guys that want to rock!. The
Shaka Express represents the top of the line Shaka for hi-gain
overdrive/distortion. The mid "bite" control gives
your distortion "teeth" and the 3 FET stages make sure
every nuance comes out loud and clear. Step on this pedal and
take the lead. PCB
and Layout available from GEO.
Listen to
a sample of the Shaka Express from sounds.ampage.org.